All posts filed under: Morocco

Deadlines are looming and I find my mind wandering further and further away from the realm of library books and Shakespearian sonnets… All the way to the leafy canopies and blue bursts of the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech.

With a mind-boggling array of sights to see, from mosques and tombs to gardens and souks, it’s no wonder that Marrakech is one of the busiest cities in Africa. This is a place where history is still very much alive, with architectural marvels around every corner, forging their creators’ presence into the walls of the city.

After reading an article in Cereal Magazine about an oasis hidden in the middle of Marrakech, I had to search it out when I visited the Red City in April this year. And Jardin Majorelle was just that; a secluded piece of paradise amid the blaring car horns and burning heat of the medina.

The anticipation of developing a roll of film. Feeling the shutter close with a mechanical snap and winding the stiff film forwards. Positioning your subject perfectly in the view-finder, because you know you won’t be taking the same photograph twice. These are a few reasons why I still shoot film.

Sitting under the shade of leaves covering our little terrace, I watch a tortoise tug at a shrub whilst the call to prayer echoes across the sky. The soft chirping of sparrows soothes my mind as they swoop between the palm trees. A white butterfly pauses momentarily on the arm of my chair.

Marrakech, North Africa’s vibrant jewel, is a city like no other. Its roads filled with speeding cars, mopeds and horse-drawn carts, and the hidden riads providing a cool oasis from the hustle and bustle of the square… Even a jam-packed four-day trip isn’t enough time to explore everything this magical city has to offer.

With a mind-boggling array of sights to see, from mosques and tombs to gardens and souks, it’s no wonder that Marrakech is one of the busiest cities in Africa. This is a place where history is still very much alive, with architectural marvels around every corner, forging their creators’ presence into the walls of the city.

Although this Balearic island is renowned for being the party capital of the world, there’s more to it than fist-pumping to an ageing DJ’s house music and sleeping off your hangover on the beach. Discover the laid-back, care-free Ibicencan vibe brought to the island by hedonistic hippies that arrived in the 70s.

The first island destination on our Croatian journey was Korcula Old Town, a fortified settlement across the bay from the Orebic peninsula. It shared the same medieval feel as Dubrovnik, with a network of narrow stepped streets surrounded by the same ancient walls and white stone towers lined with battlements.

Although my trip to this cosmopolitan metropolis was a couple of years ago now, it was an unforgettable experience. It is the only city in the world to spill over two continents, forming a bridge between Europe and the Middle East. It is also home to a community which is as colourful as its history.

Dubrovnik has a lot to offer when it comes to cultural and historical interest, rivalling the Renaissance likes of Florence and Venice. It is one of the world’s best preserved medieval walled cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is featured on HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Last summer, my boyfriend and I island-hopped along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. We had heard that this European gem, nestled between Slovenia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, was an up-and-coming hotspot not only because of the increasing number of beach festivals and boat parties, but also because of its attractively low prices and guaranteed sunshine. We travelled from the walled city of Dubrovnik up to Split, stopping off...